PAKISTAN – Militant planning to target Muharram procession held

Pakistani Shiite Muslim girls mourn during a Muharram procession in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. Muharram is a month of mourning in remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

SHAFAQNA – Police claimed to have arrested a militant, who was trying to transport explosives to the interior parts of Peshawar city for act of terrorism during Muharram.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Mohammad Tahir, the city police chief and SSP Sajjad Khan said that law enforcers recovered explosives, weapons and other gadgets from the arrested person identified as Ihsanullah, a resident of Ganj locality of Peshawar.

Police said that he was arrested in Khazana area during an intelligence-based operation. They said that five kilograms of explosives, two hand grenades, prima cord, a 9mm pistol and a motorcycle were recovered from him. They said that the explosives were meant to target Muharram procession in the city.

Mr Tahir said that an accomplice of the arrested militant managed to escape. He said that the escaped person was identified as Rizwan, an Afghan national. He added that the arrested militant was a member of Bajaur chapter of a militant organisation.

Mr Tahir said that in another incident, a policeman and a soldier were injured when they came under fire during a search operation in the Nishat Mills locality of the city on Saturday night. He said that the search operation was being carried out on information about presence of criminals involved in incidents of murder, extortion and kidnapping.

He said that one of criminals identified as Sangeen was arrested in injured condition along with three other suspects after exchange of fire.

MUHARRAM: Police have declared Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Tank and Peshawar as most sensitive districts during Muharram while Mardan, Abbottabad, Haripur and Manshera have been declared as sensitive districts.

Police say that a total of 456 processions will be taken out from 268 imambargahs in the province. About 119 processions and 316 Majalis would also be held in the provincial capital.

In Dera Imail Khan, 194 processions would be taken out from 69 imambargahs. In Hangu, 28 processions would be taken out from 28 imambargahs. Four processions will be taken out from five imambargahs in Abbottabad and 12 processions from eight imambargahs in Mansehra.

In Haripur 38 processions would be taken out from 22 imambargahs. Three processions would be taken out in Lakki Marwat, 37 in Tank, two in Bannu, six in Kohat, two in Mardan and 11 in Nowshera.

Police say that 12,335 law enforcers will deployed in Peshawar, 846 in Mardan, 3,118 in Hangu, 5,840 in Dera Ismail Khan, 1,475 in Tank, 660 in Abbottabad, 1,348 in Manshera, 855 in Haripur, 627 in Lakki Marwat, 1,086 in Bannu and 2,614 in Kohat for Muharram security.